The Sun. — London, England, 1836-12-27 00:00:00

~,,.y. THEATRES. DRURY-LANE. The entertainments at this theatre last night consisted of The Hunchback, and (of course) the new pantomime. The Yuuchback was very well acted. Miss Huddart's Julia, 1111 'particular, was little (if at all) inferior to any actress who iiras preceded her in that beautiful part. The performance - was full of feeling; and, in some of the finest scenes, re ceived the warmest applause. The other parts were per formed as we have been accustomed to see them. Master Walter by Sheridan Knowles, Clifford by Cooper, Modus by Brindal, and Helen by Miss Taylor. This comedy was performed with no diminution of the care usually bestowed on so admirable a production ; but we 'dare say the author and the performers were very well aware that his poetry and their delivery of it were a good deal thrown away on the first night of the Christmas holidays. It was the pantomime, not the play, that was " the thing." As the house got filled, while the comedy was drawing to a close, it seemed plain that a large part of the audience (all the juvenile part of it at least) were thinking less of what was passing on the stage than of the gorgeous sights, wonderful tricks and transformations, and scenes of frolic and fun, which they were already enjoying in anticipa tion. During the festive season, the dramatist must give way to the play-wriglat, the scene-painter, and the machi nist ; and all the heroes and heroines of Shakspeare him self must make room for the unvarying dramatis persona of an entertainment whose venerable antiquity and gene ral prevalence attest its intrinsic merits. We have little respect for the wisdom that despises pantomime. To make a good one Is very far from an easy matter, and requires no small share of the same faculties that are exerted in the production of more ambitious works. Its design must be new, arid its incidents unexpected, with a certain consis tency :and method even in its most extravagant fancies. It must, too, have happy allusions to passing events, and smart strokes of satire, raising a light-hearted laugh at the fash;ons and follies of the day. A pantomime should be like " Gulliver's Travels," capable of delighting the young avid entertaining the old. Such pantomimes, we are in clined to think, were more frequent in past times than in the present, though, perhaps, the change may be in our selves more than in the degree of their merit. We hope they will go on and prosper, appearing each Christmas, along with its sports, its merriments, its turkeys, and mince pies, to make our great-grand-children laugh,as we do now, and as many generations have done before us. The decay of the pantomime would, indeed, " eclipse the gaiety of na tions," and the world can ill spare any part of its stock of bar mless amusement. The pantomime of last night is called Harlequin and Old Gamnzer Gurton, or The Lost Needle. Its subject, taken -from the prologue to the old comedy of Gammer Gurton's Needle, is by no means a happy one ; so inane, indeed, that it vanishes into nothing, as we attempt to describe it. It is about a feud between two ohl women, one of whom, having lost her needle while mending her son Hodge's small clothes, charges her neighbour with the theft. The popu lation take different sides in the quarrel, which is ended by the discovery of the needle where it was lost, viz., in the young gentleman's nether garment. The plot is compli cated by a love affair between the scions of the hostile houses, which is terminated d l'anziable by the general re conciliation. To give the proper degree of dignity to the feud, it is fomented by the agency of evil spirits, and recon ciled by a benevolent fairy. The lovers are then trans formed by the fairy into Harlequin and Columbine, Hodge into the Clown, and the unsuccessful rival, or village apo thecary, into Pantaloon, and this quartetto are sent upon their usual adventures. The opening of the piece is a capital burlesque of the incantation scene in the Freischutz, with its dance of devils, its master fiend appearing in red fire, and its diabolical music, quite d la Weber, very cleverly composed, and effec tively performed. We then have the village in which the two Gammers reside, and which is the scene of the main action of the piece. The most amusing part of this scene is the trial of the needle cause before a country justice of peace, which contains one or two good hits. When Har lequin and Columbine aro launched upon their travels, with the Clown and Pantoloon in pursuit of them, there are a prodigious number of tricks, transformations, and practical jokes following each other in rapid succession—some of them very clever and amusing, and others exceed ingly dull and stupid. There were, indeed, by far too many ; they dragged out the pantomime to an immode rate length, and evidently wearied the audience, for the concluding part went off rather heavily. We would re commend a very considerable curtailment. What struck us as being among the cleverest things was the transfor mation of a table, at which the Clown was sitting down comfortably to breakfast, first into a cask, and then into a sentry - box, out of w hi c h a m i n i a t ure sen ti ne l i ssues an d drives the Clown off the stage. In another scene the Cie wn is buying a pair of walking-boots at a shoe maker's ; when going to put them on, they become " walking-boots" by walking away of their own accord ; and immediately afterwards a pair of dancing pumps give a touch of their quality by executing a pas seal with great neatness and spirit. These feats produced great amusement. The best and most laughable exhibition was the Clown's (Mr. T. Mathews) imitation of Mddle. Duvernay's castagnet dance. It was a close copy of the original in every feature, turning all its grace and beauty into something grotesque and absurd. If the fair danse-use saw it, she must have laughed heartily at her self-. Mr. Howell, as Harlequin, performed som e sur prising feats of agility and strength ; and Miss Fairbrother tripped about prettily, and danced gracefully, as Columbine. The scenery was splendid and beautiful. The most re markable part of it was a representation of the ascent of Green's " monster balloon" from Vauxhall, and its flight to Weilburg. The gardens were first represented, crowded with gay company; the balloon in the middle, having the car upon th e ground. The aeronauts enters the car, and the bal loon ascends. It remains stationary at a considerable beight from the stage ; but, by a constant and gradual change of scenery, the balloon appears to travel over a great extent of land and sea. For a minute or two the effect was unsatisfactory ; the eye was not deceived ; and the bal loon appeared (as it was) stationary with moving scenery behind it ; but presently the optical illusion began, and came very strong and beautiful. That this was the cause with the audience as well as ourselves was evident from the applause, which was faint at first, going on crescendo dur ing the whole course of this scene. On the whole this pantomime is of a very mixed character, and may be much improved in effect by being cleared of a deal of rubbish. COVENT_ GARDEN. The performances commenced with the well-known musi cal drama of Bob Roy ; but, notwithstanding the cast em braced the whole strength of the company, including Mr. Vandenhoff, Mr. W. Farren, Mrs. W. West, and Miss Turpin, the play passed off in dumb show. The entertain ments were concluded by a performance entitled Harlequin and Georgey Barnwell ; or, the London 'Prentice. With the recollection strong upon our minds of the lone- vista of fantastical splendours which have glittered before us in times gone by, Georgey Barnwell has led us to the conclusion, that either the wands of the pantomimic magicians of the present age have lost their power, or that we have ceased to possess the faculty of appre ciating the scenes of enchantment which they create as they deserve ; but however this may be, true it is that this pantomime did not impress us with the belief that its merits were at all equal to those of our favourites " of the days that are over," or that it was half so bright and joy-inspiring as the far-famed Mother Goose, Harlequin Gulliver, with its good-humoured giants and dainty Lilliputians, or a host of others which we could name. While we make this declara tion, we are bound to admit that our relish for such amuse ments may have been diminished by the devastating hand of time, and therefore as the audience evidently enjoyed, as their laughter and applause amply testified, the fun and fro lic of this piece, we are reluctantly compelled to confess that an incapability to appreciate its excellence may have resulted from some dimness in our own judgment, rather than any want of desert in the piece itself. With respect to the plot, little mare may be said of Harlequin and Georgey Barn thafir/that it closely follows that of the well-known tragedy on which it is founded, with the exception of th e introduction of those spirits of good and evil which are so essential to the purposes of a pantomime. The different characters are under the influence of the Spirits of Idleness and of Industry, and, as in the original, the unfor tunate 'prentice is induced to commit the crimes of robbery and murder at the instigation of Mrs. Millwood, a frail fair one, and a votary of idleness. Georgey Barnwell, however, is under the protection of the Spirit of Industry, and, instead of expiating his offence oa the scaffold, his uncle is restored to life, and he is transformed into a merry Harlequin, while th e other parties are converted into Columbine, Clown, and Pantaloon. The Mirthful and Motley scene then commences. The veteran Ellar was the Harlequin of the night, and Mademoiselle Theresa Schmidt was as lively and effective a Columbine as we have recently seen. Air. C. J. Smith made a highly favourable debut as Clown, and Mr. Clarke was admirable as Pantaloon. The scenery ,Was gorgeous and effective, and the tricks and contrivances tor the most part were exceedingly happy and well executed ; but it s t ruc k us th a t much more might have been made of the suggestions which some of the scenes, especially that re- Presenting Mr. Barry's design of the new Houses of Par liament, wore calculated to furnish. The abode of the Spirits of Idleness and the house of the Spirits of Indus try, were beautifully painted scenes, as were the dioramic Walk from Southwalk to Camberwell, and the view of the Tower of London. The " Rice mess" was a palpable hit and the measurement of the superficial inches of the lead -Ing London papers, drew forth great laughter , as did the fall of an illustrious personage from Mr. Green's omnibus balloon, leaving his great coat and umbrella behind him. There were besides those we have mentioned a great variety "other amusing feats ; and after Madame Louis Irvine had made her astonishing ascent and descent on the tight rope, the curtain fell and the pantomime was announced for repe tition amidst general applause. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. There were three new pieces brought out at Braham's elegant little theatre last night, Bletchington House, The Enchanted Horn, and the Parish Revolution. The first piece is the production of a gentleman long and advanta geously known to the literary world ; and if Mr. Gaspey's tragic burletta did not obtain last night, from a West End audience that decided manifestation in its favour which it perhaps partly deserved, the piece must still be allowed to evince considerable power. It is bare justice to state that the author complains that his burletta was injudiciously compressed by the managers, and that the death of the hero, ought to have been brought more fully be fore the audience. A Contemporary is of opinion that if the piece were transplanted to Covent-Garden or Drury lane, "it would meet with a much warmer reception than it experienced in a place where the presence of the tragic muse is considered to be an intrusion." Miss Alison performed the wife of the unfortunate officer, whose fate is the chief incident in the piece, with a great deal of spirit, and the other characters were creditably sustained'; but at the fall of the curtain there was some disapprobation, and although the calls for Harley to announce it for repetition were loud and frequent, he did not persevere. The operatic burletta called the Enchanted Horn was eminently successful. This horn has the quality of conquering enemies by making them dance and laugh at the will of the person who blows it, and Harley, who, in the character of a squire, has possession of it, as often as he sounds this magic horn the audience are convulsed with laughter. The music is of the first order, and we never heard Braham in better voice ; some bravura passages were in his best and most powerful manner. Miss Rainsforth and the Misses Smith exerted their fine powers to the delight of a crowded and fashionable house. A ballad (Oh! Araby) of Miss Smith's, sang in the sweetest, simplest, and most touching style, was well executed by that young lady, and deservedly encored. The last piece, The Parish Revolution, was well received. The scenery in this, as in the preceding pieces, was very beautiful. OLYMPIC. It is impossible that good actors should go through the work of even an inferior playwright in an unpleasing man ner. In the burletta which was last night produced here entitled A Double Dilemma, there was an illustration of this in favour of the actors and actresses, and at the expense of the author. The whole plot of the thing consisted in Isabelle (Mrs. Honey) endeavouring to ascertain the sin cerity of the professions of her lover, Theodore (Mr. Vin ing), which she does by a change of costume, appearing upon the stage red-haired and elderly, instead of black-haired and juvenile. Plot, strictly speaking, there was none, and the piece would appear to have been intended merely as a medium of con veying two songs, sung by Mrs. Honey, in one of which she was encored. Mr. J. Vining appeared, after the fall of the curtain, with the design of announcing the piece for repe tition, but was compelled to retire amid the loud " Noes" of the audience. He would be an Actor followed, and the performances concluded by a " new, grand, comical, alle gorical, magical, musical burletta in one act, being a well known fairy tale twisted into verse and platted with prose, as occasion requires, entitled Riquet with the Tuft. The reason given for this adoption of a fairy tale is, like most of the reasons given by Vestris, delivered in rhyme. In the finale she says— Our old mythology we thought was getting out of date, And so we've left Olympus old, and all its gods so great, For a fine old English fairy tale, all of the olden time! Opportunity is taken for the introduction of various nursery reminiscences, such as the Seven Champions of Christen dom, Valentine and Orson, Jack the Giant Killer, Cinde rella, Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, and his Spouse, the White Cat, inclusive. The entertainment, indeed, may be said to have consisted of rhyming dialogue, fairly-written parodies, a series of repre sentations of beautiful scenery, and that tasteful and elegant costume in which the Olympic stage is superior to any oter. We never witnessed anything more correct, more skilful in stage grouping, or more rich in the effects of colour, than the last scene. ADELPHI. On yesterday evening (according to ancient custom) the holiday folks had at this theatre with the other entertain ments a pantomime. It bore the singular title of Cowardy Cowardy Custard; or, Jo , : Crow Harlequin, and the Magic Mustard Pot. In plot it was nearly the same as its nume rous and laughter provoking predecessors. Fair Colum bine's hand is sought by rival suitors, Sir Loin, the Baron of Beef, and others rejoicing in the names of Pepper, Mus tard, and Custard ; Columbine is in the end of course mar ried to her favourite. Messrs. Brown, Sanders, King, and Gibson, performed the Clowns with great activity. Their feats were certainly novel and effective, and Miss Lane enacted Columbine very successfully. Some of the trans formations were irresistibly ludicrous. Ridicule was hap pily brought to bear on some of our modern inventions. The steam-gun and the large bonnets lately worn by the fair sex, the homoeopathic system of medicine and Morri son's pills, were, along with the cow-cabbage, allotted a fair share of pantomimic honour. Some of the scenery was very beautifully executed. A moonlight view of the ram parts of Cruet Castle was exquisitely painted ; but public admiration was called forth by the exhibition of a bird's-eye view of the contemplated Richmond Railroad. We never saw pictorial effect better displayed. SURREY. The Christmas pantomime at this theatre is entitled— Harlequin and Lady-bird's Bower; or, Cock-a-doodle-doo. The plot does not require any explanation. After gentle men, representing plum-pudding hot and plum-pudding cold, had exhibited themselves on the stage, the great hero of the night made his appearance, larger than life—for he was at least five feet high, and, measuring as birds are some times measured, from the tip of the tail to the beak, he was at length seven feet long; and, notwithstanding his great length, and great height, he conducted himself with great decorum, and crowed in a way that all could under stand him— _ _ _ " Cock-a-doodle doo, Dam• has lost her shoe ; Master's lost his fiddle-stick, And don't know what to do." After paying his respects to the chief performers, who, with the exception of Hodge Podge, were all of the Hum-strum family, he majestically quitted the stage and gave place to Harlequin (Mr. Honner), Columbine (Miss Stanley), Pan taloon (Mr. Asbury), and Clown (Mr. P. Herring), who rivalled their great predecessor in delighting the audience, and performing the functions usually allotted to those im portant characters at this season of the year. Pantaloon and Clown were more staid and sober than usual. They were not guilty of so many thefts as their predecessors, nor so noisy ; but they nevertheless afforded great amusement, and elicited loud applause. Some of the allusions were appropriate. Vegetable Pills were follo we d w ith th e P u blic Cemetery, and the New Marriage Act with an exhibition of five women encompassing one bachelor, who reluctantly yielded, and promised to undergo the ceremony of mar riage. The entertainment concluded with a " Dioramic Annual," in which were represented the Triumphal Arch of l'Etoile, Paris, Melun, Auxerre, the Valley of Isere, and the city of Grenoble. Some of these views were well exe cuted. The performances altogether were successful, and the announcement of the repetition of the pantomime was received with loud and general approbation. The house was crowded to excess. THE Q UEEN'S. The managers of this theatre have been bold enough to depart from ancient Christmas usage, and have ventured to present to their visitors a three-act melodrama, in the place of the usual gambols of a harlequinade. The change is not entirely in accordance with our taste ; but we trust, nevertheless, that it may prove successful. Success will always follow the exertions of a spirited manager, who zea lously endeavours to please, and if those exertions should sometimes partially fail, applause will still be bestowed, by way of encouragement for the future and reward for the past. Of such a nature, we apprehend, was the applause which a new melo-drama, entitled The Guardian Spirit, re ceived here last night ; for in sooth it contained little in it self which could recommend it to public favour. Miss E. Clifford, Mr. S. Johnson, and Mr. T. Green, made the most of the characters assigned to them, and the acting throughout was highly creditable. A new interlude was likewise produced, the title of which—The Musical Bore —is sufficient to indicate the materials of which it is com posed. They are slight, and for the greater part not ori ginal ; but the audience laughed, and the piece succeeded. SADLER'S WELLS. One of the best pantomimes we have ever seen at this theatre was produced last night ; and it is called, Fe-Fo- Fum ; or Harlequin Te-To-Tum. The transformations were extremely amusing. Messrs. Gay, Fillingham, Jeffe rini, and Miss Rayner, as Harlequin, Pantoloon, Clown, and Columbine, were admirable, and the whole perfor mance was received with the loudest applause. There were two other pieces, a drama called the Ring of Death ; or, The Buried Bride ; and the Sprig of Shillelagh. The house was crowded. VICTORIA. " Christmas comes but once a year," as the old chaunt says, and it is well that it comes no oftener. 'Tis well to philosophize our fun : the appetite for enjoyment should never be overcloyed. Long anticipation heightens the sense of pleasure. The graceful Columbine skimmering in s pangled whiteness, the flexibl e H ar l equ i n , th e gro tesque but agile Pantaloon, and the grinning, clumsy, but still active Clown would lose half their welcome if they came with even the quarterly frequency of the tax-gatherer's knock. 'We cannot eat our pleasure and have it too. The eye can not be always strained ; the mouth for ever on the stretch. Once a year is enough for such exuberant fun—more would make grinning frights of us, mere heads for door knockers. In pantomime the beautiful and imaginative should always precede the burlesque. A fairy tale will make the best prologue. It contrasts best with the fun and frolic ; and, moreover, if a lesson of retributive justice be taught the in fant audience will most probably bring away in the moral something worth preserving. We regret to state that the harlequinade of Robinson Crusoe, produced last night at this theatre, did not come up to our beau ideal of the legi timate pantomime. It had, however, the fairy preface, in troducing Britannia as the guardian genius of poor Robin son ; and the scene of the enchanted cavern was extremely picturesque and gorgeous ; the introduction also, in which which the history is told, was extravagantly amusing and outre. It seems to us to be taken from a series of carica tures, which appeared soma time since, in which most gro tesque and inordinate heads were stuck upon tiny bodies, like turnips upon corking pins. Up to this all was very well, and Mr. Forbes and Mr. T. Hill, as Robinson and Friday, were very amusing. Being, as we have already observed, warm admirers of this species of exhibition, in its fit season, i. e., Christmas, we are sorry to say that the tricks were not so well executed as we could wish. This, however, will mend as the pantomime is repeated. The last scene was exceedingly effective. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1836. ABERGAVEN NY. We publish the following narrative of unparalleled moral delinquency, as it has been handed to us ; it details so abominable a case, that we should hesitate to publish it, did we not rely on the respectability and discretion of our cor respondent:— Within these few days, events have transpired in this town relative to an individual which has created a sensa tion unparalleled within our recollection :—facts have come to light which, for villainons cunning and consummate im pudence, have scarcely been equalled throughout the king dom. As faithful chroniclers, we consider it our duty, however painful to the injured party, to give publicity to the following circumstances. The subject of our narrative is a young man named George Daniel, who commenced business in this town between two and three years ago, as a hair-dresser and perfumer, and, to all appearances, was doing a good business. For some time past, he had been paying attention to a respectable young female residing in the vicinity of Bristol, and having represented to her friends the prosperous state of his affairs, they were unfortunately induced to sanction the marriage, which took place near seven weeks ago. About a fortnight after he had brought his wife home, Daniel left here for London with the avowed intention of making purchases of toys, perfumery, &c., taking with him the whole of the sum which his wife brought him at her mar riage. We believe he did not state the probable length of his absence. A fortnight from that period having elapsed, during which time he had repeatedly corresponded with his wife in the most endearing terms, accounting for his protracted stay, his absence, therefore, gave her no uneasiness ; in the last letter Daniel stated, that he had taken to a shop in London, which would compel him to visit Paris before his return to Abergavenny. In a short time, however, rumours were afloat that he had absconded, which rumours reaching the ears of his unsuspecting wife, she indignantly repelled, having the greatest confidence in the integrity of her husband. Circumstances con tinued thus until Saturday last, when a letter was re ceived from him by an individual in this town, with whom he had been formerly on terms of intimacy. This letter was dated Havre-de-Grace ; in it he states, with the greatest effrontery that he (Daniel) had embarked for Mexico, as companion and secretary to a gentleman of for tune, at a salary of 800 dollars per annum (or nearly 2001.) ; he further states his intention of never returning to England. Inclosed in this letter was another addressed to his wife, in which he, with the utmost coolness, informs her of his departure for Mexico, and also tells her, with a levity exceeded only by its cruelty, that all the statements in his previous letters were written solely for the purpose of misleading her, and making good his departure with her property ! He likewise states, that it will be for her consideration what she had better do hereafter, signi fying, at the same time, his intention of never seeing her again. Her state of mind, on the receipt of this letter, may better imagined than described. All previous rumours were confirmed. After a little investigation it was ascer tained that Daniel had, a short time before he left, for warded, by some persons who were going to the United States, nearly all the stock he had in the shop. Since his departure, goods to a large amount, ordered in Sheffield, which had not then arrived, he directed to be forwarded to him at London, which was accordingly done without his wife's knowledge, who, it may be here necessary to state, resided in private lodgings, in another part of the town, distant from the shop. Not content with his plunder, he further wrote to his wife, shortly after his arrival in Lon don, to send the few remaining valuable articles left in the shop. as he had an opportunity of disposing of them there to advantage. She, unfortunately, complied with the re quest. It is now discovered that he is indebted to almost every tradesman in this town ; to some of them to large amounts ; his impositions have not been confined to strangers; they include all classes ; his friends and his nearest rela tives are sufferers. The stock left in the shop, consisting almost entirely of shapes and shadows, commonly called dummies, will scarcely be sufficient to pay the rent due. It is supposed that with the sum taken with him he has defrayed his former debts d ue i n L on d on , an d on th e strength of his punctual payments there, succeeded in obtaining more goods, but to a much greater amount, all of which he has doubtless taken with him. His destination is supposed to be the United States. We cannot conclude without noticing the feeling of execration which such conduct has produced among the inha bitants of this town ; particularly the brutal /conduct to wards the unfortunate female whose future happiness and prospects have been so cruelly blighted ; she is an object of the deepest sympathy. We believe it is contemplated by different benevolent and spirited individuals to subscribe a sum sufficient to defray the expense of pursuing Daniel, and bringing him back to England, where, we trust, he will be made to answer, in an English court of justice, for his heart less violation of law, both human and divine.—Hereford Timcs. The festivities at Woburn Abbey, usually so splen didly sustained during the Christmas holidays, will take place on the return of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford from the Marquis of Abereorn's seat, Baron's Court, whence they are expected early in the ensuing month. _ _ Lord Henry Russell is on his journey from Paris to Lisbon, via Madrid, to join the Hastings ship of thc line, as junior Lieutenant. A small ball, apparently from an air-gun, was dashed throu g h the drawing-room window of the house of Mr. Penny, at Ulverstone, on Sunday morning. Although all the family were in the room, no one was wounded. A young lady had but an instant before quitted the window, where she had been standing before the part through which the bullet came. No reason can be assigned for this act of malice.—Cumberland Packet. It has been observed, that people get rich not by extraordinary gains, but savings. For example, a gentle man in the habit of travelling to London by a coach every now and then, and returning in the evening, observed to a friend that he never knew how to dispose of his great coat for the few hours that he spent in town. The danger of losing the coat out of the book-keeper's office, or from the waiter's custody, and other troubles, were mentioned. At last an old gentleman, who was known to have made a hundred thousand pounds by his wits, having risen from poverty, addressed the gentleman—" Young man, I will give you a piece of information, worth your hearing ; and, if you follow it, you will save your great coat and your money too. Within three doors of the coach-office is a pawnbroker's shop ; there I pledge my coat for half-a crown, and take a duplicate ; when I return I redeem my coat, and pay the interest, which is three half-pence. The coat is brushed, and taken good care of ; you cannot get it done better nor cheaper." Mr. Hugo Meynell will entertain a party at Hoar Cross Hall during the holidays. THE SORCERER AND HIS DUPES.—At the sit ting of the Royal Court of Guernsey, on Thursday, the whole day was taken up in the examination of the various charges of fraud against Louis D'Orleans, the pretended sorcerer, who has been carrying on his impositions on the credulous people of this island. A few weeks ago D'Or leans was called in to cure a case of witchcraft. The good people were amazed—some bad fortune bad befallen them —in one word, the whole family were bewitched ! D'Or leans requested a few days to cure them, and having ap pointed the time a number of persons were there to see the miracle performed. D'Orleans came and asked them some questions, which they answered him ; he then declared that the Devil was amongst them, and that he would turn him out, and that they should see him. He told them to shut all the doors close, and then said, " The Devil is coming— do not you hear his chains rattle ?" "Oh yes," they tremblingly replied. The chains began to rattle louder, and D'Orleans stentoriously exclaimed, " Open the doors," and down tumbled the Devil from the old farmhouse chim ney, as black as his admirers could have wished him to be, and, dragging a huge chain after him, darted like lightning through the doors, vociferating inarticulate sounds. This horrid appearance of the Devil himself almost deprived the credulous people of their senses. When they had a little recovered from their dismay, D'Orleans announced that his Satanic Majesty had gone never to return again. This in telligence caused an immediate feeling of joy among them, and they paid the fee with the most unbounded rapture, in which state D'Orleans left them, whilst he went to make merry with the Devil at their expense. Such are the means by which sorcerers in the nineteenth century impose upon the ignorant. The Judges, after hearing many other cases against the impostor, adjudged it a case for the Grand Jury.—Channel Islands Gazette. Entering Goldsmith's chambers on one ocasion, Sir Joshua Reynolds found him in something of a reverie, yet deliberately walking round the room, and kicking a bundle before him in the manner of a football, of which the nature could not be immediately distinguished. On inquiry, the article proved to be an expensive masquerade dress which he had been persuaded to purchase ; and the occasion hay ing been served, and repenting perpaps of his imprudence in expending on such an article money for which there were so many more pressing demands, he was determined, in his own phrase, " to have the value out of it in exercise." —Prior's Goldsmith. During the greater part of yesterday the translators of boots and shoes with the gentlemen " vat sells clothes better as new," in Cutler -street, Hounsditch, amused themselves by pelting each other with snow-balls. In the afternoon, between three and four, when these per sonages were in the height of their glory, a man of genteel exterior was passing through the street, when he was saluted with two or more of what these gents termed " Morison's Pills," and on proceeding to expos tulate with them he was closed with, and robbed of his watch and three sovereigns. The man, on finding himself minus the above-named articles, called for the police ; but, not one being on the spat, a general dispersion took place, and the villains escaped. WELSH AND IRISH MAILS. A deputation appointed by the Chamber of Commerce, consisting of Messrs. Samuel James, Charles Bowles Fripp, and J. Vining, being requested to proceed to London with the memorial from the Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants, numerously signed in the Commercial Rooms, pointing out the injury and inconvenience sustained by Bris tol from the irregularity in the arrival of the Welsh and Irish mails, had an interview, on Thursday last, at the General Post-office, with Colonel Maberley, the Secretary, Lord Lichfield, the Postmaster-General, being too ill to be seen. They were immediately informed by Colonel Ma berley, it was a case for which relief could not be granted, as the regulations that caused the inconvenience com plained of, had been adopted on the recommendation of the Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry, and this was stated to be not only the opinion of himself, but that of Mr. Lewis, and other practical officers of the Post Office establishment. The deputation pressed to be heard in answer to their objections, and another interview was appointed for the following day, with Colonel Maberley and Mr. Lewis conjointly. In the interim, the deputation determined to apply to the Com missioners of the Post-office Inquiry, who, they understood, were still sitting, and having obtained a letter of introduc tion from Mr. Matthias Attwood, they drew up a short memorial, embracing the substance of that which they had delivered to the Postmaster-General, and proceeded with it to the Secretary of the Commissioners, Mr. Gardner, by whose means they obtained an appointment to meet two of the Commissioners then in town, Lord Duncannon and the Hon. Mr. Labouchere, on the following morning. Having again attended on Colonel Maberley with Mr. Lewis, as appointed, who gave a fair and candid hearing to all that the deputation could urge, the latter admitted the hardship of the case as regarded Bristol, but said it was im possible to make the alteration required by the deputation (that is, to allow three hours' time in Bristol between the arrival of the Welsh mail and the departure of the London mail), consistently with the general interests of other places, more particularly as alterations were contemplated and in progress as would allow of only twelve hours for the voyage between Waterford and Hobb's Point, and the de parture of the mail from thence to Bristol was intended to be fixed at two o'clock a.m., instead of one, as at present. It was, however, promised by Colonel Maberley and Mr. Lewis, to the deputation, that all their statements should be submitted to the Postmaster-General, on his recovery, and receive further consideration. The deputation then attended on the Commissioners, agreeably to the appoint ment made for them by Mr. Gardner, when both Lord Duncannon and Mr. Labouchere (Mr. Lewis being present) admitted that a case was made out of extreme hardship inflicted on Bristol, and thought, if it resulted from mea sures recommended by them, that it was within their pro. vince to entertain the prayer of the memorial, and having heard the various statements and claims made by the depu tation, as well as the objections urged by Mr. Lewis, the deputation then retired, with a promise that the fullest con sideration would be given to the subject, both by the Com missioners and the authorities at the Post-office ; and that a communication should be shortly made, addre'ssed to the President of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Lewis also said, that on the recovery of the Postmaster-General, he should recommend an immediate alteration, that the Welsh mail may arrive in Bristol about five o'clock, P. 31., and that the letters should be delivered at the Post-office window immediately after its arrival, notwithstanding an extra ex pense would be incurred thereby. The deputation is strongly impressed with the conviction that further relief may be obtained for Bristol by watching the arrangements now in tended, in reference to the Irish mail, and their effect on the interests of Bristol.—Bristol Mercury. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. SOUTH AMERICA. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF BOLIVIA TO THE AS- SEMBLY OF THE NORTHERN STATE OF PERU. Gentlemen Deputies—After completing the work of pa cification of Peru, to which I was bound by a solemn treaty invested with all the formalities which public right has sanctioned, and by the peremptory and official call of tho legitimate chief* of the Peruvian nation, it remained for me to fulfil an engagement based on the same foundations, emanating from the same principles, and arising out of the same circumstances. Such was the national will, expressed through its legal organs, in the south and in the north of Peru. In the assembly of the south this will has been mani fested freely and solemnly. That assembly has determined to shape its own territory into a form long and loudly de: manded by its industrial and political necessities. It was even more imperiously and irresistibly demanded by the ne cessity of controlling anarchy, and circumscribing the sphere of its destructive action, by multiplying the barriers designed to compress its development. On this basis was formed the outline of a political combination, new in the annals of the southern sphere—a combination that presents to the world a nation composed of three states, confederated in perfect homogeneity, each respectively endowed with the vital principle required for its existence and preservation, and all bound together by a tie of brotherhood that insures them against intestine disorder, and shelters them from as sailants without. A few months have sufficed to evince incontestably the correctness of the judgment pronounced at Sicuani. The state of South Peru has carried its views into effect, and the bases that sustain the system there proclaimed are de signed to support the fortunes and the dignity of a nation that may fraternize on terms of equality with any on this continent. Representatives of the North,—A similar view presents itself for your decision ; I am here to afford the stipulated aid—declare your resolution, and fear not frustration from disobedience, counteraction from force, or evasion from in trigue. Declare your resolution, and the heroism that triumphed over perfidy at Yanacocho, at Socabaya, over rebellion, shall vindicate your will, as it vindicated in those glorious days the cause of law and of justice. Gentlemen Deputies The illustrious magistrate at whose call you are assembled cherishes in his heart the sentiments I have expressed to you here. For the impor tant period of his government was reserved the transition from disorder to regularity—from anarchy to the rule of law—from the reign of violence to the triumph of justice. Your duty it is to consolidate the elements of this fortunate change—mine to assure its objects. Let us with equal fidelity discharge those high obligations. *Orbegoso. The Earl of Normanton and a party have been enjoy ing the diversion of a week's battue on his Lordship's well stocked preserves at Sowerby Park, in the New Forest. HANIBURGII, DEC. 19.—1 n the night of the 12th of November several shocks of an earthquake were felt in the town of Zajisda, in Croatia, and the most solid chim nies of the manor-house fell, persons were thrown out of their beds, tie. These shocks, though with less violence, and at intervals of ten or twelve hours, continued to the 16th of November, on which day there was a shock, ac companied by a loud subterranoous noise. From the Ist to the 16th there was an uninterrupted calm and thick fogs. The inhabitants had scarcely recovered from the fright, when, at four in the morning of the 18th of No vember, the shocks returned, and continued till ten o'clock with such violence, that the remainder of the chimnies fell. Hereupon a violent storm arose, with heavy snow, which continued till eleven at night. When the storm and the snow ceased another slight shock was felt. On the 21st the sky was quite clear, and the inhabitants began to breathe once more at their ease, thinking the danger was over ; but this confidence was of short duration. From the 22d, in the morning at eleven, and in the afternoon between three and four, several other,but slight shock, were felt, and ap peared general. In the forest deep clefts in the earth have been found.—Hcpnburgh Papers, Dec. 20. On Tuesday the attention of the police was called to a case which is likely to involve serious consequences. A woman residing in Craig's Close, High-street, was found in her house with a dreadful gash on the back part of her head, from which the blood flowed with great profusion ; and on the floor were found a pair of tongs, with which the wound seemed to have been inflicted, as the upper part of them was covered with blood and hair. The poor woman is still alive, but in such a state as leaves little hope of her recovery. The husband has been taken into custody on suspicion. —Edinburgh Chronicle. THE SNOW STORM. The heavy fall of snow .experienced in and around the metropolis during Christmas night appears to have ex tended over every part of th e kingdom, and to have com menced in the northern parts of the island earlier than with us. On Sunday morning sea reely any of the mail coaches arrived in London before hal f-past eight o'clock, owing to the heavy state of the roads, but as on that day they bring no bags, no great exertions were made for keeping time. The guard of the Glasgow snail, which arrived on Sunday morning, said that the roads in the northern parts were heavy with snow, and that a t one place the mail was two hours getting over four miles of ground. Yesterday morning and Stinday night the impediments from the storm to the arrival of the mails were of the most serious description. The delivery of general post letters did not commence yesterday till twelve o'clock, and was then only partial, the general postmen being ordered to re turn again after making their rounds, for the letters of such mails as had not then come in, and which it was hoped would arrive in the interval. At one o'clock yesterday ;afternoon the following mails had not arrived :—Halifax, Chester, Hastings, Dover, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Holyhead, Manchester, Birmingham, Worcester, and Brighton. The Leeds Mail, which ought to have arrived at six o'clock on Sunday night did not arrive till midnight. The Liverpool Mail, which ought to have arrived at the same hour, was not in till half-past ten o'clock. Not a single mail of the 26th, which ought to have ar rived by six o'clock yesterday morning, bad reached the Post-office before half-past eight o'clock. They then began slowly to arrive, the guards accounting for the delay from the heavy fall of snow which had taken place during the night, and which, from the strong northern wind prevailing, was drifted into the hollows, where it lay to a depth of several feet. At noon yesterday the following mails were reported to have been stuck fast in snow drifts at Hockley-hill, near Dunstable, viz., the Manchester, the Holyhead, the Chester, and the Halifax. At half-past twelve o'clock yesterday two mail-guards arrived from Gravesend in a post-chaise, with ship letters. The Exeter mail did not arrive till two hours and forty minutes after time. The guard who had accompanied the mail from Dorchester states that the storm commenced about six o'clock on Christmas evening, aed continued without interruption from that time during the journey. In many parts where the snow had drifted it was full five feet deep. The Devonport mail arrived at half-past 11 o'clock, the guard who travelled with it from Ilminster, a distance of 140 miles, states the journey to have been a most trying one to both men and cattle. The storm commenced when they reached Wincanton, and never afterwards ceased. The wind blew fresh, and the snow and sleet in crossing the plains were driving into their faces so as almost to blind them. Between Andover and Whitchurch, the mail was stuck fast in a snow-drift, and the horses, in attempting to get out, were nearly buried. The coachman got down, and almost disappeared in the drift upon which he alighted. For tunately at this juncture a waggon with four horses came up, and by unyoking these from the waggon, and attach ing them to the mail, it was got out of a hollow in which it was sunk. In the open parts of the country all trace of the mail road was lost, and the coachman was obliged in several instances to travel by guess, or trust to the instinct of his horses. The following notice was posted at the Inland Depart ment of the General Post-offiee yesterday evening : " Half-past five o'clock, P.M., Inland Office, Dec. 26. Mails due.—Edinburgh, Boston, Chester, Dover, Man chester, Hastings, Brighton, Worcester, Banbury, Ha lifax." The Glasgow and the Holyhead mails had arrived only about half an hour previous to the exhibition of the official notice. The inquiries made at the Inland Office during the after noon and evening were earnest and numerous. Some wished to be informed what means would be adopted for delivering the letters of the mails yet due ? and were told that they would be sent out immediately on being received by the two-penny postmen. Others wanted to kno:v if, under the peculiar circumstancos, any delay would take place in sending out the down mails. They were informed they would be started at the regular hour. The inconvenience to commercial persons by the non arrival of so many inland mails, it is feared, will be very great ; many have, perhaps, depended on the receipt of re mittances to meet their engagements of the day, and the suddenness of the storm left them no opportunity of meeting difficulties in another way. In consequence of the non-arrival of so many mails, it was found necessary to call into service all the supernume rary guards ; and some strangers were sworn in during the afternoon, for the special occasion. Those of the guards that came in during the afternoon and early part of the evening, were in most instances required to go upon duty again at night. The Hull mail came in about two o'clock yesterday after noon ; the guard from Peterborough reports that there had been a great fall of snow in that part of the country, com mencing from Saturday. The journey on Sunday night was a most difficult one, and extra assistance was required in various parts of the road. The guard of the Portsmouth states they had little diffi culty during the first part of the journey, the road lying high, and the wind carrying off the snow as it fell. It was not till they were approaching London that any great difficulties were experienced, and then they were much re tarded at places by deep drifts. This mail was an hour and a half behind time. The Northampton coach which left the Bull and Mouth at noon yesterday, returned within four hours, having found the road impassable. The Halifax mail came in shortly after nine o'clock last night. The guard states, they left Nottingham at half past eight o'clock the previous evening. They had conse quently been nearly 25 hours accomplishing a distance of 127 miles. At midnight the following mails had not arrived :—Edin burgh, Boston, Chester, Dover, Manchester, Hastings, Brighton, and Banbury. The Worcester mail coach, after overcoming many great difficulties, got stuck fast in a drift, at Wheatley, 16 miles o❑ the London side of Oxford. After some delay, the bags were forwarded in a post-chaise and four horses, and reached the Post-office at a quarter-past six o'clock last night. The post-boys were obliged on several instances to deviate from the main road, to avoid the heavy drifts. The only roads reported to be comparatively clear of snow, are the Exeter and Portsmouth. _ With the single exception of the Hope, Halifax coach, not a stage coach arrived yesterday of the many that rim to and from the Bull and Mouth Inn. About Barnet the road is reported to be very deep in snow. TAeLioNI.—We are enabled to confirm the re port which we alluded to last week, in respect to the ser vices of this eminent danseuse having been secured by the lessee of Drury-lane Theatre for a portion of the present season. Mr. Bunn has engaged her for the months of May, June, and July, at such a rate of remuneration as that, at the termination of that period, she will put into her pocket the enormous sum of 6,0001. This engage ment, however, includes her father, her brother, and his wife, of whom the first named has undertaken to bring out the new ballet recently produced in Paris, which has met with but a moderate extent of success. As soon as Madlle. Taglioni has completed her term at Drury-lane Theatre she proposes to visit Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Dublin, and then to proceed to St. Petersburg and others of the larger cities in Russia ; next she will go to the prin cipal town in America, and ultimately to Naples, where she intends to live in a state of retirement for three years. At the expiration of that period she will again return to the stage ; but we think it questionable whether she will then—taking into consideration that her limbs, which are now, probably, the most pliant ever possessed by a human being, will have become somewhat stiffened in their action, and, above all, that she will by that time have attained the age of 36,—possess such commanding attractions as she does at present. Taglioni has, for a length of time, lived separate from her husband, the Count de Voisigne, who resides with his father. It much to be lamented that the talent of this lady should have been transferred from its proper scene, the King's Theatre, to the boards of an English theatre. We shoud have desired, and we doubt not such a wish is not confined to ourselves, that except upon some particular occasion her pas should not have been witnessed elsewhere than in the Haymarket. The event, however, may, to a certain extent, be partly attri butable to the circumstance of Laporte's being still her debtor; whilst the lessee of Drury-lane has always contrived to pay his Foreign corps, even at those moments when his English actors and actresses have been, as now, receiving but a proportion of their sa laries.—Observer. Poultry stealing to a very large extent, and in a most systematic manner, has, during the past month, been carrying on in every part of the island. At many large farms the whole stock of poultry has been carried off in one night, and in one instance a duck was returned on the night succeeding that on which it had been stolen, with a notice to the owner to keep fatter poultry, as those he then had were not worth stealing. The police are in active pursuit of the depredators, but as yet without success.—Hants Advertiser. The Earl of Wilton, who is an accomplished amateur of music, has become a vice-president of the Melodists' Club, which will resume its harmonious meetings next month. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, patron of the club, having offered a silver goblet for the best approved song by the professional members, a premium will be given for the best-approved words, which will be sent to the composers. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL' 8-YESTERDAY. THE DERBY. The odds quoted below show a marked distinction between the , three favourites for the Derby, Jereed having settled down at 8 to 1, Defender declined to 10 to 1, and Brother to Bay Middleton taken the intermediate position. There was no other alteration worth notice:- 8 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Jereed—take S to 1 9 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's Bro. to Bay Middleton—offered 10 to 1 agst Mr. Sadler's Defender—taken 16 to 1 agst Captain Gardner's Phantasima colt—taken 16 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Dardanelles—offered 17 to t agst Mr. Greville's Mango—offered 28 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Sambo--take no to 1 1200 to 200 agst Lord Jersey's two and Adrian—taken 11)00 to 800 on the field agst the following six :—Jereed, Brother to Bay Middleton, Defender, Mango, Dardanelles, and Phan lasima—taken. .THE PORTLAND HANDICAP, P.P. (ACCEPT OR NOT.) 6 to 1 agst Mr. J. Day's Venison—take 7 to I 7 to 1 agst Lord Lichfield's Elis—taken 10 to 3 agst Lord Egremont's Hock—taken 10 to 1 agst ?Ur. Walker's Glpsey—taken 9 to 1 was betted iainst each of the above and Birdlime in one lot. The nominations for she Doncoster and Newmarket St. Leger take place at York, Doncaster, Newmarket, and in London on Monday next. They are exp'.toted to be very numerous. Colonel H. Wyndham's Hounds on Friday at Lorwood—hf-p.IO. Sir .1. Cope's Hounds on Thursdgr atWoodcut Clumps; Satur day, at King's Kennel—hf-p.lO. Mr. Phillipps's Hounds on Friday at Ltrivsland Barn-10. 111 r. Bulteel's Hounds on Saturday at Pu Bridge—h p. f.P Sr W. Carew's Hounds on Thursday at Cask:le Dyke-11. G hf- The Swansea Harriers on Friday at Fair Lodge 10. 10 The Llanblethian Harriers on Friday at Ystradmven- 10 . The Llanelly Harriers on Friday at Maesardaven—lf - past 10. The Brookside Harriers on Mondays at Newmarkt. t Hill ; Fri days, at Telscombe Tye—half-past 10. The Brighton Harriers on Mondays at Patcharo ; WeL l eesdays, at the Race Course ; Fridays, at the Dyke. The Pembrokeshire Hounds on Thursday at Llangwarren Bridge. The F. B. Houvds on Friday at Cassawes Wood. The Woodfold Hounds on Thursday at the Yew Tree, Preston new road ; Saturday, at the Royal Oak, Riley Green. The Lambton Hounds on Thursday at Flass ; Saturday, at Ches.. ter-le-street-11. The York and Ainsty Hounds on Thursday at Skelton ; Satur day, at Pell Moor—half-past 10. Lord Harewood's Hounds on Fridoy at Wighill village—hf-p. 10. The Pantykendy Hounds on Friday at Llandowro r Village--9. The Tivyside Hounds on Thursday at Kilwandeg-10. The Galewood Hounds on Friday at Thrummell Dean, near Kentstone-10. . . The Kington Harriers on Thursday at Huntington; Thursday, at the Kennel-9. The Inglevrood Hounds on Thursday at Ainstabie ; Monday, at Boscar ; Thursday, at Aiket Gate-10. The Wigton Harriers on Thursday at Blencogo; Friday, at Brocklebank. The Cleveland Hounds on Thursday at West Coatham—hf-p 10. Mr. Leche's Hounds on Friday at Cardere-10. The Somerset Stag Hounds on Friday at Somerford Park-10. The Wallsend Harriers on Friday at Killingworth-10. Sir M. Ridley's Hounds on Friday at Weldon Bridge-40. On Tuesday last the Blackmore Vale Harriers found their hare on Longburton Common, going away at a racing pace across the Burton inclosures to Leweston londs, taking the green rides for the Holm Bushes, and through the corner of that cover for the Holnest Commons (short of which a check ensued) by a sweeping cast, crossing the line again, and going away in view over the whole of that wild region for the inclo sures at Hermitage, and away for the Leigh Commons, mak ing head for Minterne Hanging, climbing that cover for the open down above, and pointing towards Minterne Seat ; short of which they killed in the open, at the end of a brilliant rune of one hour and ten minutes, over eight good miles direct, ex clusive of the turns incidental to the chase. At this moment a woodman unluckily hallooed the pack away to a fox, the hounds in the densely increasing fog slipping away from the whole field, making their way at a tremendous pace through Hill-Naper Coppice for Leigh, and on to Bubb Down Hill, making a turn for Sydling Clappers, where they were seen to enter that cover with the fox about 100 yards before them, at the end of a very severe run ; and where they were got up to by the Whipper-in--Mr. Farquharson's fox hounds (which had also slipped away with a fox which they had found in the Grange Woods, without a follower,) having brought their fox to the same cover, and having been left in full pursuit of one of the hunted foxes, with a certain number of the Blackmore Vale Harriers, which could not be stopped, as humble auxilia ries in the chase. WHEAT AND FLOUR IN FRANCE COMPARED WITH LONDON. WHEAT. —The highest price of the best IA heat in Paris is 25f. per 1i hectolitre, equal to 38s. 3d. per English quarter. The highest price of the best Essex and Kent wheat in Lon don is 675. per quarter ; showing a difference of 28s. 9d. per quarter dearer in London than in Paris, or upwards of 75 per cent. ; and that the same money which in London buys but eight bushels of wheat, will in Paris purchase 14 bushels of the best wheat. FLOUR.—The highest price of flour of the " first mark" in Paris is 50f. per 159 kilogrammes, corresponding with 31s. 6d. per English sack of 280 ibs. The highest price of the best town made flour in London being 555., shows the cost of the same quantity (a sack) to be 235. 6d. mere in London than in Paris, or 74fr per cent. ; and that the 555. which will in London buy but 280 lbs. of fine flour, is in Paris the price of 482 lbs. of the same quality. BATIL—About font o'clock on Thursday after noon, the inhabitants of this city were thrown into a state of the utmost consternation by the unexpected bursting of an electric cloud immediately over their heads, the report from which resembled the sound of the loudest artillery, while the lightning with which it was accompanied was equally remarkable for its uncommon brilliancy. The con cussion was so violent, that many houses were shaken, and the windows of nearly every house in Sydney-buildings (on the side towards the canal) sustained more or less injury. For a moment the electric fluid was sensibly felt by many persons in various parts of the city. In a smith's shop it was seen to float around the anvils ; and in other places, those whose occupations required them to have in their hands steel instruments were very sensibly affected. We have not heard, however, of any one receiving personal in jury.—Bath Gazette. A HOAX.-Some mischievous wag has played off the following trick at Gloucester, which has created much merriment in that city. About six o'clock on Monday evening, a person passing through the Fox Entry found a brown paper parcel. A young man behind him called out. " halves." They proceed to open it, when they discovered a packet, inside, endorsed, 't To John Chadborn, Esq.— James Wood, Esqr.'s Codicil." The lucky finders were in cestacies. With the visions of the 20,000/. reward before their eyes they started off to Mr. Chadborn ' who received them most courteously ; but wishing that all duo formalities should be complied with, he sent to several Aldermen and Town Councillors to be present at the opening of the packet. Fold of paper after fold were duly unrolled amidst the most contending feelings of hope, fear, and breathless anxiety. It cannot be expected that we should paint tho last scene of this eventful inquiry, when out tumbled a piece of dirty oil-cloth ! which the wag had inclosed in order to create a sensation in the city, in which he succeeded to his heart's content.—Gloucester Journal. On Saturday much interest was excited by the de.. scent of three persons in a diving-bell to the bed of the St. Katherine's Docks, to recover about 140/. worth of quick silver in bottles, which fell overboard six months since from a New York vessel. The men were engaged several hours, and at last succeeded in recovering the property, which was but slightly damaged. On Monday the 12th instant, it appears to have blown a perfect hurricane in the north. In Inverness we are comparatively sheltered, and feel little of the tempests which ravage less fortunate situations. " The weather in this quarter," writes a correspondent from Golspie, " has been unprecedently coarse and boisterous. On Monday last, the tempest was indescribable. It blew violently from the east, accompanied with rain and hail, which lasted for eight hours. The oldest man here does not remember such a day and night." The samg i fl i ay, a man named John Cormack, Pulteney-town, Wickovas ti firowned in the har bour there. He was washed"Werbard by the sail of a boat, as he and the crew had jualitifined from the haddock fishing. It was impossible to t•ertaer him any assistance, owing to the severity of the storm, and the roughness of the sea. A boat belonging to Messrs. Davidson and Co., of Londonderry, was also wrecked the same day at Kintrad well : the crew and most of the cargo were saved.—lnver ness Courier. A baker's man at Stutgard, was lately seized with a most singular monomania. He got a fixed idea into his brain that he was destined to remain fixed at one spot, without stirring until the snow fell. On the 6th he placed himself, at daybreak, in front of his master's house, very lightly clad, and stayed in one position till 12 o'clock, when he was removed by force, every argument to convince him of the absurdity of his notion having been tried in vain. He was taken to the hospital complaining of the danger h e was in from having quittedis post. The women of Samaria are engaged all day in beat ing cotton from the husk, which grows there in great luxuriance. An old man, named James Gregory, who has turned eighty, and who is the freeholder of an estate of one hundred acres of land near Exford, which he lets to a respectable tenant, from a parsimonious feeling engaged himself as a labourer to keep the hedges of the farm in order. On 'Tuesday week he prepared himself with tools to perform his work, and, contrary to the advice of his friends, set out from his cottage. On the Thursday his disappearance from his home excited suspicion, and a search was made, when the old man's body was found in a ditch by the road side. On his person a large sum of money in notes, gold, and silver, was found concealed in various parts of his dress. Gregory had no children, and it is Lott yet known who succeeds to his estate and money. The aer is said to be a considerable sum.— Taunton Courier. Preparations are making, we understand, to give a grand Reform Dinner in the metropolis. It will take place the 23d of next month, and Drury-lane Theatre wig pro bably be the scene of the festival.